When professional photographers are asked what makes a good photograph, they will often say, “f8 and be there.” It’s a joke, to be sure, but it also serves as a reminder that good photography is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But once you get there, how do you make your photography truly memorable. Here are a few tips to help you accomplish just that.

1. Get in close. Every good picture needs a subject. Unfortunately, when many people take pictures, they are often so far back from the subject that it’s hard to determine where they want your attention. You can solve this problem by always getting close to what you are taking your picture of. It is especially true of people shots. Look them in the eye.

2. Try to get a plain background. In some cases, notably with action photography, controlling your environment can be difficult. Regardless, try to make your background as plain as possible. It is another way to make the subject of your photographs the centre of attention.

3. Use your flash in the daylight. Your flash isn’t always something you use at night. Sometimes, especially when you have dark shadows, a flash can be used to fill in those dark areas and bring things back to life. It is called a “fill flash,” and it will lighten the darkness of shadows to a great extent.

4. Move from the middle. You can make your photograph more interesting instantly by throwing your subject out of the centre of your picture. The subject is still the centre of attention, just not in the physical centre of the photograph.

5. Lock your camera’s focus. Most cameras today will focus on whatever is in the middle of the picture. It is fine until you want to move your subject from the middle. It’s at these times that you will want to lock the focus of the camera on the subject, then recompose your picture to move them out of the centre. It will maintain focus on your subject but leave the background blurred.

6. Watch your light. Light can cause huge problems when it comes to good photography. It always seems like it is too much or just as often too little. When you are using a flash, make sure you know the range of your flash. Otherwise, there’s a good chance that the light that your flash provides to you will be diffused by the time it gets to your subject, leaving it in the dark. If you are outside, one of the best ways to control your light is to watch the time of day you are taking pictures. In the middle of the day, when the light is at its harshest, it would be better to change to an earlier or a later time when lighting is softer.

Finally, always remember that the more you know about your equipment, the better control you will have over your ability to work with other conditions of your photography. It is then that your photographs will improve.

Are you equipped with the right skills needed to shoot great photos? If you’re a novice or somehow not sure of yourself, these photography tips can go a long way into helping you shoot great pictures. Until you can produce professional photos which are also worth selling to an agency, there is no need to feel contented with your current skills. So this is how to go about it.

Focus on the subject’s eye

The secret to shooting great photos is by focusing on your subject’s eye (if it’s a person). So when aiming at them, hold the camera at an eye level with the subject. This will unleash the true power of their magnetic gazes and exhilarating smiles. If the subject is a child, then it could mean stooping low enough to hold the camera at their level. Remember, the subject doesn’t always need to stare at the camera. The idea of holding the camera at the eye level is to create that personal and inviting experience which pulls you into the image.

A plain background is good

To highlight all parts of the subject which you are photographing, you need to use a plain background. It can be achieved by studying the viewfinder feature and looking into the surroundings of your subject as well. Ensure those other elements are not functioning in some parts of your subject. For instance, you should not take the shot if something which is not part of the project is dangling on their ear or protrude from their head.

You can use flash outdoors

The bright rays of the sun are known to create bad facial shadows. But the shadows can be eliminated by turning on the flash feature which will lighten the subject’s face. Take note that there are two options when it comes to using flash mode. These are fill-flash mode and full flash mode. If the subject is standing 5 feet away, you can use fill flash mode. But if they are standing a distance that is far away, you should engage the full power mode. Finally, if you’re doing this using a digital camera, you could review the results using the in-built display of the camera.

Step in closer to the subject

In photography, people learn how to aim at different subjects depending on their sizes. If you’re taking the photo of your car, for instance, you can be forgiven for standing beyond 5 feet away. But if you’re dealing with a person, then it’s always a good idea to step in closer and zoom in on them. When you’re up-close, you can be sure to reveal details like an arched eyebrow, a wrinkle, etc.

However, you should not get too close. Otherwise, your shot will be blurry. Keep in mind that most cameras will take good photos if you’re standing at least 3 feet away from the subject. That’s the average focusing distance you could ever stand as far as good photography is concerned.

These tips and tricks will work fine if you have a decent camera at your disposal. Remember that photography is a skill. But it’s a skill that can be acquired with practice and experience. You can do well in the long run.